EAST LANSING — Defensive end Demetrius Cooper had a feeling about Michigan State the first time he attended the Spartans' football camp.

His recruitment with Michigan State offensive coordinator Dan Roushar continued that smooth relationship, to the point that Cooper turned away scholarship offers from other Big Ten, Big 12 and ACC schools and stick with his gut.

On Wednesday, the 6-foot-6, 225-pounder made his decision official, signing his National Letter of Intent to play for Coach Mark Dantonio.

"When I get up there, they'll be looking at me at defensive end,'' said Cooper, a three-sport athlete who also plays basketball and runs track. "They'll put me on a weight program and bulk me up.''

Cooper also played outside linebacker, tight end and was his team's kicker and punter, further evidence of the athleticism he displayed on the south side of Chicago at Julian High School.

As a sophomore at Morgan Park High School, Cooper was already a top 100 prospect.

"I was starting to get a lot of mail,'' Cooper said. "But my junior year I hurt my knee, some cartilage damage.''

The letters stopped and Cooper's road to recovery began.

Prior to his senior season and transfer to Julian High School, he attended football camps at Michigan State and Notre Dame, with combine stops in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Springfield, Ill.

"It was on twitter that there was a kid from Chicago who was gonna end up at a BCS school,'' Cooper said. "I knew then I was a big-time prospect. I got a letter, and then 12 more came.''

Cooper explored some of the other schools recruiting him, knowing in the back of his mind what could be waiting for him at Michigan State.

"They were my leader,'' Cooper said. "I knew I liked what I saw at Michigan State.''

And Roushar liked what he saw from Cooper, more than likely thinking he would rather have the talented prospect on his team rather than lining up across from the Spartans' and drawing a bead on the quarterback.

Cooper averages a double-double in basketball, and he does have some interest in possibly approaching Michigan State coach Tom Izzo at some point of his career.

"I thought about maybe playing there,'' Cooper said with a chuckle, "but we'll see how things work out.''